Diels-Alder VisualizationSeveral computer animations of a Diels-Alder reaction that were created as an undergraduate student project are presented.

Addition Reactions |

Alkenes

Addition Reactions of AlkenesThe Diels-Alder reaction, addition of oxygen to tetrakis(N, N-dimethylamino) ethylene, polymerization of ethylene, and addition of iodine to a-pinene are demonstrated. Molecular models of ethene are shown.

Hydration of Acetylene: A 125th AnniversaryDmitry A. Ponomarev and Sergey M. ShevchenkoThe discovery the hydration of alkynes catalyzed by mercury ions by Mikhail Kucherov made possible industrial production of acetaldehyde from acetylene and had a profound effect on the development of industrial chemistry in the 1920th centuries.Ponomarev, Dmitry A.; Shevchenko, Sergey M. J. Chem. Educ.2007, 84, 1725.

Addition Reactions |

Aldehydes / Ketones |

Alkynes |

Catalysis |

Industrial Chemistry |

Reactions

The Aldol Addition and Condensation: The Effect of Conditions on Reaction PathwayR. David Crouch, Amie Richardson, Jessica L. Howard, Rebecca L. Harker, and Kathryn H. BarkerDescribes an experiment offering the opportunity for students to observe the critical role that reaction temperature and base strength have in determining the product of the base-mediated addition of a ketone to an aldehyde.Crouch, R. David; Richardson, Amie; Howard, Jessica L.; Harker, Rebecca L.; Barker, Kathryn H. J. Chem. Educ.2007, 84, 475.

Addition Reactions |

Aldehydes / Ketones |

Green Chemistry |

NMR Spectroscopy |

Reactions |

Synthesis

Stereospecific Synthesis of the Geometrical Isomers of a Natural ProductT. Grove, D. DiLella, and E. VolkerPresents an experiment for the synthesis of (Z) and (E) isomers that is presented to students as a puzzle in which they must determine the identity of the major component in anise oil. A necessary part of the analysis is the preparation the (E) and (Z) isomers of anethole. Molecular modeling is used to explore the conformation of and energy difference between isomers.Grove, T.; DiLella, D.; Volker, E. J. Chem. Educ.2006, 83, 1055.